Star Wars, Russia, and the invasion of Ukraine

I watched the original Star Wars trilogy today. No particular reason; my Dad put Star Wars on this afternoon and we... just kept watching. A thought struck me as I was watching, and it changed the way I watched the movies, made me see them through new eyes.

As we watched, I couldn't help but think of Ukraine and the fight to preserve their independence. I'm in awe of the country, their leadership and the tenacity of a people who refuse to give up. It is, frankly, inspirational. It's also very much like the fight portrayed in Star Wars.

The Empire is, of course, Russia, with their polished uniforms and conscripted soldiers, convinced that they know best. They consume and destroy for no other reason than to prove their superiority. Ukraine are the Rebels, the scrappy upstarts who envision a free world where people can be who they are without constraint or interference.

Such themes have been around for decades in film, and for even longer in literature, so this isn't anything new. But still, I watched these movies with a fresh awareness of the fragility of peace and the understanding that if we want to be free, we must fight for that freedom. We must be willing to go to the wall, go over it, and blow up whatever's on the other side if we're to preserve our right to live free, something the Ukrainians understand intimately now.

So, if you've got a couple of minutes, offer up a prayer or some good thoughts, or donate if you can to whatever organization you prefer. DO SOMETHING to honor these brave people and help them to know they're not alone. That we all stand with them.

...

Also... the Ewoks are fucking carnivores. They were gonna EAT Luke, Han, Chewie, and Leia. Not to mention, what the hell was the trap baited to capture? There's some big-ass predator on that moon that the Ewoks were looking to bag. Bad-ass little critters, that's what they are. I'm just sayin'...